The Turner Prize winning Artist Anish Kapoor has been infuriated by a Chinese sculpture clearly plagiarising his iconic ‘Cloud Gate’ AKA “The bean’ sculpture in Chicago. “It seems that in China today it is permissible to steal the creativity of others,” he said, in a statement. Chinese media, have reported that the stainless steel work located in Karamay, North West China, represents “a large oil bubble”. Kapoor’s similar sculpture, ‘Cloud Gate’, was unveiled to much public fanfare in 2006.
The Chinese known for their knockoffs have already plagiarised a building complex by Zaha Hadid and have made reproductions of a number of Jeff Koons’ ‘Balloon Dog’ polished steel sculptures. It is thought that this is the largest reproduction ever created in stainless steel.
Polished to a mirror finish, Kapoor’ piece similaly reflects the sky and clouds. “I feel I must take this to the highest level and pursue those responsible in the courts,” Kapoor said. “I hope that the Mayor of Chicago will join me in this action. “The Chinese authorities must act to stop this kind of infringement and allow the full enforcement of copyright.” ‘Different meaning.’
‘Cheap Chinese Knockoff’ (Above) Top: The Real Deal In Chicago
The Karamay’s tourism bureau has denied all knowledge of the existence of the Kapoor work, stating any similarities were coincidental. “While we use similar materials, the shapes and meanings are different,” Ma Jun told the Wall Street Journal’s China Real Time blog. “Cloud Gate intends to reflect the sky, but ours reflects the ground.” Our opinion…. it’s too close for comfort to be an accident!
Anish Kapoor was born in Bombay, India in 1954 and lives and works in London. He studied at Hornsey College of Art (1973–77) followed by postgraduate studies at Chelsea School of Art, London (1977–78). Recent major solo exhibitions include Château de Versailles (2015); Sakıp Sabancı Museum, Istanbul (2013); Martin Gropius Bau, Berlin (2013); Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney (2012); Le Grand Palais, Paris (2011); Mehboob Studios, Mumbai and National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi (2010); Royal Academy of Arts (2009) and the Turbine Hall, Tate Modern, London (2002). He represented Britain at the 44th Venice Biennale (1990), for which he was awarded the Premio Duemila. He won the Turner Prize in 1991 and has honorary fellowships from the London Institute and Leeds University (1997), the University of Wolverhampton (1999) and the Royal Institute of British Architecture (2001). He was awarded a CBE in 2003 and a Knighthood in 2013 for services to visual arts.
Top Photo: P C Robinson © artlyst 2015